Pneumatic gun with projectile release

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a pneumatic, line-throwing gun and projectile capable of substantial ranges of projection. The gun includes a relatively elongated barrel attached at one end to a pressure source and having a projectile releasing mechanism at the other end. The releasing mechanism is a pivoted V-shaped sear attached to the barrel and engaging diametrically disposed pins projecting from the head portion of the projectile. The missile or projectile, when disposed within the barrel includes a weighted head portion at the barrel discharge end, to which a line is attached. The missile further includes a relatively lightweight, elongated tail piece in contrast to the weight of the projectile head.

United States Patent [72] Inventors DanielW. Eaton Highland, 1nd.; Frank J. Vanek, Lockport,1ll. [2| 1 Appl. No. 781,437 [22] Filed Dec. 5,1968 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee Texaco Inc.

New York,

[54] PNEUMATIC GUN WITH PROJECTILE RELEASE 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. CI 124/11, 273/106.5,124/31 [51] Int. Cl ..F4lb 11/00, F4lb 11/08 [50] Field of Search 124/11, 13 A, 31, 37; 43/6 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,421 7/1918 Glissenti 124/11 2,090,731 8/1937 Klein 124/13 10/1958 Maxell Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorneys-K. E. Kavanagh, Thomas H. Whaley and L. 1'1.

Phelps, Jr.

ABSTRACT: The invention relates to a pneumatic, linethrowing gun and projectile capable of substantial ranges of projection. The gun includes a relatively elongated barrel attached at one end to a pressure source and having a projectile releasing mechanism at the other end. The releasing mechanism is a pivoted V-shaped sear attached to the barrel and engaging diametrically disposed pins projecting from the head portion of the projectile. The missile or projectile, when disposed within the barrel includes a weighted head portion at the barrel discharge end, to which a line is attached. The missile further includes a relatively light weight, elongated tail piece in contrast to the weight of the projectile head.

PATENTED JUN 8 l97l SHEET 1 OF 2 PATENTED JUN 8 I97! SHEET 2 OF 2 PNEUMATIC GUN WITH PROJECTILE RELEASE The present invention relates to a pneumatic line-throwing gun and projectile capable of realizing substantial ranges of projection with relatively uncomplicated and simple equipment, using convenient sources of compressed air or other gas.

In general, energy imparted to a projectile in a barrel results from pressure acceleration which takes place over a substantial distance so that the projectile must necessarily travel, and accordingly be accelerated along a substantial section of the barrel if a material portion of the energy of the expanding gases is to be translated into kinetic energy by the projectile. Actually therefore the effective length of the barrel is the portion thereof thruout which the expanding gases act upon the projectile.

This requires the projectile to be placed deeply in the barrel, as a result of which it becomes difficult to translate the acceleration of the projectile smoothly to a projected line. Either the line is subjected to sharp reversal or a whipping action, or complex intermediary mechanisms are necessary which seriously detract from the utility of the gun as a line-throwing instrument.

In accordance with the present invention, the gun barrel comprises a cylindrical tube of ultimate simplicity, provided with means for introducing a gaseous fluid under compression and cooperating with a projectile having a weighted head portion, and a substantially elongated, preferably cylindrical tail portion which projects freely into the barrel a substantial distance, coextensive with the effective or firing length of the barrel but having a weight or mass substantially less than that of the head portion. The rearward extension or tail of the projectile is provided in the vicinity of its rearward extremity, with a sealing member, such as a piston ring or cup which functions to seal against the wall of the barrel when subjected to fluid pressure from the breach or butt end.

With the tail of the projectile inserted into the barrel the projecting head of the projectile, being of greater lateral dimension than the bore or diameter of the barrel, may be readily restrained by a latch or lever. Therefore, when a pressure is established in the gun barrel it may be tired simply by releasing such latch or lever.

By way of illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a gun constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof with parts broken away,

FIG. 3 is a fragmental portion of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale, partly in elev. and partly in section,

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an end view of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a plan section taken on 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The numeral 10 represents the gun barrel, which involves in ultimate simplicity, an ordinary length of piping or tubing, closed at its lower extremity by reduction fitting 12 which takes inlet tubing 20. The muzzle extremity of the barrel may be somewhat internally tapered as at 14 (FIG. 4) to facilitate entry of extended or tail portion 16 of projectile or missile 18.

Gas under pressure is supplied to the barrel by way of the inlet tube 20 from a pressure source 21 controlled by valve 22. Pressure gate 24 may also be provided to enable control of firing pressures.

While the pressure source 21 is shown in the drawings as a tank or cylinder of compressed gas supported by frame 25, it may comprise a mechanically operated compressor unit or any other convenient means for providing a high pressure source of expandible gas.

The barrel I0 is adjustably mounted on a base assembled from side angle members 26, welded to end angles 28 as shown, and in turn mounted upon block 30 by fasteners 32 and 34. Fastener 32, as viewed in FIG. 6, preferably enables the base to pivot as shown so that fastener 34, provided with a handle as indicated, may operate as a clamp to permit angular adjustment of the base, by pivoting about fastener 32 thruout an angle determined by slot 36. The barrel 10 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2 is pivotally mounted on pin 38 for control of its vertical elevation. The pin 38 is supported in vertical members 40 which are welded as shown to the side members 26 of the base and in turn engages brackets 42 fastened as indicated to the barrel.

Additional flanges 44, forwardly spaced on the barrel, are arranged to align selectively with a series of apertures 46 on quadrants or support members 48, similarly welded to the side members 26 of the base. A pin 50 is insertable within the apertures to hold the barrel at various selected angular positions of elevation. In FIG. 1, for example, the barrel, by this means, is held in its maximum position of angular elevation.

Referring now in greater detail to the muzzle extremity of the barrel, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 1-5, the missile or projectile I8 is retained in firing position by a retainer or sear 52 of generally U-shaped cross section, shown more clearly in FIG. 5. The retainer is mounted on pivots 54, projecting from a collar 56, mounted on the gun barrel. The side flanges of the retainer 52 are recessed as at 58 to receive pin 60 which extends laterally from the head of the missile 18.

The retainer 52 is resiliently urged into missile engaging position by spring 62 and is releasable by link 64 pivoted as at 66 to the bracket 68 which is welded to the sear 52.

Link 64 is in turn actuated by firing lever 70, pivoted as at 72 to bracket 74 on the gun barrel 10.

Locking pin 76 functions as a safety device to prevent inadvertent actuation of the firing lever 70 until pin 76 is removed.

Referring now more specifically to the projectile 18, shown more clearly in FIGS. 2--5, this consists of a weighted head 78 embracing the end of an elongated cylindrical extension or tail portion 16. Thus the extremity or extension 16 may comprise simply a wooden dowel loosely insertable within the barrel and joined to the weighted head portion 78. In the embodiment shown, however, the extension at this inner extremity is provided with a flexible cup 80 which is fastened thereto and is so oriented as to provide a pressure seal against the inner walls of the barrel when pressure is applied from the butt or breach.

Obviously, from the foregoing, this may comprise any suitable fluid-sealing device, such for example as a piston ring, but the foregoing arrangement provides a simple and effective element which permits the projectile to pass freely thru the barrel and to hold substantial gas pressure without appreciable leakage.

Finally a cylindrical container 82 is welded to the barrel as shown in FIG. I to receive a line 88, preferably a coil or spool or cord seated therein as shown in FIG. 2 with its thrown extremity fastened to the missile at eyelet 84 and its retained extremity secured at eyelet 86.

In operation, with the projectile inserted in the barrel as shown in the solid line positions of FIGS. l5, air pressure, for example, is admitted thru pipe 20 to a predetermined pressure level as determined from gage 24, after previously, of course, suitably adjusting the bearing and elevation of the barrel 10.

With the line or cord 88 suitably coiled in retainer 82 the safety pin 76 is withdrawn and the firing lever snapped clockwise as indicated in FIG. 1. This, in turn, shifts the parts to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1, releasing the projectile, as also indicated.

Among the features of the present invention is the provision of a weighted head projectile or missile, by which term is meant that the head of the missile is of substantial weight or mass with respect to that of the elongated tail portion such that the center of gravity of the entire unit is at or in the vicinity of the head. As a result, therefore, any tendency of the missile to tumble or twist in its path of flight is overcome in spite of the fact that it must necessarily function against the continual drag of the line 88. Thus the line is drawn evenly thru space, with the important result that the energy of the compressed projecting gas is efficiently employed to obtain maximum ranges of line-throwing.

Also, of even more important significance, is the fact that the tail portion of the projectile as shown extends a substantial distance into the barrel, actually approximating one-half the total length thereof. Inasmuch as the actual time and path of acceleration of the projectile in the barrel is specifically dependent upon the length of tail extension 16, it is of great importance from the standpoint of obtaining the maximum energy from the pressurized fluid.

Accordingly it will be apparent from the above that even greater firing ranges can be obtained, not only by increasing the gas pressures, but by extending the length of the tail piece 16, as well as the length of barrel 10 to provide a sufficient amount of propellant gas.

It will also be apparent that increased capacity for pressurized fluid may be provided by enlarging the capacity, as for example the diameter of the barrel in the breach portion or by providing a communicating chamber. The present embodiment however obtains the advantage of providing a fully expandible body of expandible gas by use of a simple pipe section, thus avoiding costly modifications.

We claim:

ll. In a pneumatic line-throwing gun comprising a cylindrical barrel having a muzzle end and a butt end,

means for introducing compressed gas into said barrel, a projectile having a head portion of substantially larger transverse dimension than said barrel and an elongated tail portion attached to said head and adapted to extend a substantial distance into said barrel equal to the full effective firing length thereof, a sealing member mounted on the extremity of said tail portion to form a gas seal with the wall of said barrel, and means for attaching the head portion of said projectile to the extremity of a throwing line, the head portion of said projectile being weighted with respect to the mass of said tail portion such that the center of gravity of the entire projectile is located substantially in said head portion,

the improvement which comprises means for controlling the release of said projectile from the barrel, said last named means comprising diametrically opposite pins projecting from said head portion of said projectile,

a sear or retainer of generally U-shaped cross section having opposite side flanges mounted near the end of said barrel on pivot means projecting diametrically of said gun barrel,

said side flanges being arranged on either side of said barrel and being recessed to receive said oppositely projecting pins,

means for rotating said sear about its pivot to release said projectile.

2. Pneumatic line-throwing gun as called for in claim 1 wherein said pivoted sear is spring pressed into position to engage said pins for retaining said projectile within the barrel and is provided with means for swinging said sear laterally to disengage said pins whereby to release the projectile. 

1. In a pneumatic line-throwing gun comprising a cylindrical barrel having a muzzle end and a butt end, means for introducing compressed gas into said barrel, a projectile having a head portion of substantially larger transverse dimension than said barrel and an elongated tail portion attached to said head and adapted to extend a substantial distance into said barrel equal to the full effective firing length thereof, a sealing member mounted on the extremity of said tail portion to form a gas seal with the wall of said barrel, and means for attaching the head portion of said projectile to the extremity of a throwing line, the head portion of said projectile being weighted with respect to the mass of said tail portion such that the center of gravity of the entire projectile is located substantially in said head portion, the improvement which comprises means for controlling the release of said projectile from the barrel, said last named means comprising diametrically opposite pins projecting from said head portion of said projectile, a sear or retainer of generally U-shaped cross section having opposite side flanges mounted near the end of said barrel on pivot means projecting diametrically of said gun barrel, said side flanges being arranged on either side of said barrel and being recessed to receive said oppositely projecting pins, means for rotating said sear about its pivot to release said projectile.
 2. Pneumatic line-throwing gun as called for in claim 1 wherein said pivoted sear is spring pressed into position to engage said pins for retaining said projectile within the barrel and is provided with means for swinging said sear laterally to disengage said pins whereby to release the projectile. 